Oven won't turn off

mtnbluet881 · #1 07/04/07, 05:51 AM

Used oven today and when went to turn it off the knob stopped at just under 200 degrees. It won't go back to off. Slight pressure does nothing--don't want to force it and break it.

This is a Magic Chef built-in oven of the Concept Series and is greater than 10 years old. (Probably from about 1974 or so.) Right above the knob is has the words Thermo Control. Where would I find the Model number? I don't see it anywhere on the outside of the oven.

Why is this happening? We have used this oven for more than 13 years with absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Is there some turn off switch in the oven itself than I could get to to shut the oven down?

What is causing this knob to be stuck?

Thanks so much for any help and / or suggestions.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 07/04/07, 05:58 AM

Is it that the knob isn't oriented correctly, and the oven is actually off although the pointer isn't indicating that? Or is the oven actually still on?

The knob should lift straight up and off, then be able to be repositioned correctly, if that's the problem.

mtnbluet881 · #3 07/04/07, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

Is it that the knob isn't oriented correctly, and the oven is actually off although the pointer isn't indicating that? Or is the oven actually still on?

The knob should lift straight up and off, then be able to be repositioned correctly, if that's the problem.

Yes, the oven is still on at ~185 degrees and I did notice that the screw was almost out on that side of the oven control panel. Yes, I can pop off the knob, but the main stem is stuck at ~185 degrees. I tried to force it slightly, and it still won't go. If I open up and hopefully be able to lift off the cover of the control panel, what should I be careful about?

Toads tool · #4 07/04/07, 06:40 AM

Pull the knob straight off, turn it 180%, put it back on and try to shut it off then. Check to see if anything is cracked or broken in the knob when you have it off. After 30+ years of use, anything can happen. May just need cleaned up real good.
If that don't do it then we've at least eliminated the knob.

The #'s are sometimes on a plate inside but are most always on the back. Being a wall oven they should have a plate inside.

The oven if electric should have an independant breaker of it's own that you can shut down. If gas then there should be an inline shut off valve to cut the gas supply, red handle sometimes.

The fact that you used the last 13 years out of a 30+ year old oven says alot for the quality of manufacturing back then. You'd be lucky to get that out of a newly built one.
You may also run into problems getting parts for such an old unit, this is what led me to get rid of my own wall oven relacing it with a standard gas stove with a little remodeling.

Good Luck

mtnbluet881 · #5 07/04/07, 02:09 PM

Tried reversing the knob, but it won't fit any other way.

Looked for a valve shut off knob, but there isn't one--inside the oven or underneath the oven. I have shined a flashlight inside the upper and lower oven areas and don't see any numbers anywhere.

Yes, this oven has done well. The timer never worked and the door keeps trying to fall apart, but like the old VW's, we always manage somehow to keep it together. As long as it has been functionally working, that kept me happy. Now, I really don't want to shut off gas to the entire place as last winter the water heater went out and we were unable to light it back up ourselves.

I would like to remove the control panel and take a look inside, but due to 20-20 hindsight would like to know:

1) if that is a good idea

2) if it is, what to watch out for or be careful of

I maybe too cautious here but...

Thanks,
Cathy S.

Farmerwilly2 · #6 07/04/07, 03:29 PM

Pull the oven away from the wall and look behind it for a gas shutoff valve. Start looking for another stove.

oldgaredneck · #7 07/04/07, 09:25 PM

Being a former appliance service tech, I can tell you finding parts for a 30 year old wall oven is going to be next to impossible. Manufacturers stock parts for usually a ten year period from date of manufacture.
Time to buy a new stove....

mtnbluet881 · #8 07/06/07, 11:20 PM

Being the thorough person I am I would like to tell you that I'm going to look for the thermostat for the oven except.....I'm not.

I do thank all you for your expert advice. I haven't been on here because either I have been at work or trying to work out this problem.

The update is this: We found the shut off valve for the oven at or below floor level. Had to peel away the linoleum to get a good look at the green valve and green stem. Looks like it was painted green. Spoke to a neighbor that said when a valve is green it has become porous and is not good any longer. Is this true can anyone verify this? (tried to move the valve, but it wouldn't budge.)

After shutting off gas to our entire house and temporarily tripping the electric, I opened up the Control panel. Lo and behold there is a thermostat attached to the temperature control knob and of course, no dirt, just wouldn't budge so....probably needs a new thermostat.

Back to the shut off valve area: just above it is a connection or coupling that is rusted. Hence, we also need a new connection as well and with these 2 areas not right question is what else is ready to go as well.

Last, I still do not know the Model number---would probably have to unscrew the oven and pull it out from the wall to find that out.

Hence, I agree with you, I guess 33 years is a good run for a gas oven.

So:

1--we start looking for a used built in gas oven
2--I bought 2 single electric burners to use in the meantime.

Someone said Goodwill or Salvation army but...how do we know if it works??

Well, at least we have some course of action. Better to know than to not know.

Thanks,
Cathy S.

Farmerwilly2 · #9 07/07/07, 05:20 PM

Glad to hear progress is being made. I'd suggest replacing the valve while you're at it. If it's not working it's useless, they're relatively inexpensive and better to be able to shut off the one line than having to shut off the entire house. Any guess on how old the house shutoff and regulator are? Finally, if you're using to hotplates for cooking make sure the wiring on the outlets you're using is up to snuff. Just full of sunshine and glad tidings aren't I? Honest mom, I scare because I care. Fires and explosions suck.

mtnbluet881 · #10 07/07/07, 05:55 PM

Probably old. I tried 2 hot plates this morning and finally went down to one which worked OK. So now we are going for a coleman that we will use to cook outside on the porch--one hot plate is OK for breakfast, but not for other meals...

In the meantime, I have just put a want ad in craigslist.org for a gas builtin oven. We will see what that nets.

Am still trying to find out if it is true that a gas shutoff actually turns green and freezes open.

Onward and upward...the expression sounds good

mtnbluet881 · #11 07/10/07, 10:41 PM

An Update:

On Sunday bought a coleman stove and grill.
Was amazed that we are using one propane per day and a half.
Gotta look into that solar heating....

Got out an old plastic drum that was used to irrigate a small offsite garden. Filled that up with water and find that this water is cool and not cold so heats up quicker.

Getting a quote on putting in new gas shutoff valve and gas piping to the oven.

Absolutely no offers anywhere of a built in gas oven. Have to search further or come up with plan B, after get new valve and pipes put in.

YounGrey · #12 07/13/07, 02:27 PM

I would unplug it.

mtnbluet881 · #13 07/15/07, 11:36 PM

This past Thursday I was given the phone number of a Remodeler who is licensed and advertises as a Professional Appliance Installer. So on Thursday afternoon we set a time for Friday afternoon and promptly went out to eat and then spent time hunting for the items needed for a solar cooker. We came home to a message that while we were out, our friend had done the measurements needed to give us a quote on replacing all the gas pipes he said were old and damaged.

The next day, Friday, the Remodeler came over and promptly closed the shutoff valve to the oven. When asked he said that it was a very good, high quality valve and did not need to be replaced. The connection above it was rusted, but would be replaced whenever the next built-in gas oven was installed. He even stradled a chain link fence to go into a vacationing next door neighbor's yard to turn our gas back on. Last, but not least he bled the gas pipe in order to light the gas water heater. All that for a price of $55.

I then called our friend and told him and said we were good as we can live for a while without an oven. He said cool, but his actions showed otherwise that he was upset.

It may not have been a week without any way to heat water except the Coleman stove, but it felt like it. Our friend had screwed us in the past some years ago but had newly moved into the neighborhood. We decided to let bygones be bygones and start anew believing he had changed. He never did see the shutoff valve I had found. He said it was old, he didn't want to mess with it, and he would give us a quote to replace all the old gas pipes. He knew that we were without any way to efficiently heat water, and he could have easily tried to close the shutoff valve.

There is a peace with us however, because our life has finally returned to normal and we know sooner than later that our friend is no friend, just a neighbor.

Thanks,
Cathy S.

mtnbluet881 · #14 07/15/07, 11:38 PM

This past Thursday I was given the phone number of a Remodeler who is licensed and advertises as a Professional Appliance Installer. So on Thursday afternoon we set a time for Friday afternoon and promptly went out to eat and then spent time hunting for the items needed for a solar cooker. We came home to a message that while we were out, our friend had done the measurements needed to give us a quote on replacing all the gas pipes he said were old and damaged.

The next day, Friday, the Remodeler came over and promptly closed the shutoff valve to the oven. When asked he said that it was a very good, high quality valve and did not need to be replaced. The connection above it was rusted, but would be replaced whenever the next built-in gas oven was installed. He even stradled a chain link fence to go into a vacationing next door neighbor's yard to turn our gas back on. Last, but not least he bled the gas pipe in order to light the gas water heater. All that for a price of $55.

I then called our friend and told him and said we were "good" as we can live for a while without an oven. He said "cool", but his actions showed otherwise that he was upset.

It may not have been a week without any way to heat water except the Coleman stove, but it felt like it. Our friend had screwed us in the past some years ago but had newly moved into the neighborhood. We decided to let bygones be bygones and start anew believing he had changed. He never did see the shutoff valve I had found. He said it was old, he didn't want to mess with it, and he would give us a quote to replace all the old gas pipes. He knew that we were without any way to efficiently heat water, and he could have easily tried to close the shutoff valve.

There is a peace with us however, because our life has finally returned to normal and we know sooner than later that our friend is no friend, just a neighbor.

Thanks,
Cathy S.

Selena · #15 07/16/07, 09:32 AM

Not so sure your friend is really a friend. The only time we've replaced gas pipes is when the underground pipe coming into the house was bad - which is why one does not plant a jungle of vegetation that gets watered constantly near your utility pipes! What you were charged was quite reasonable IMHO. But why is your gas cut-off in the neighbor's yard? Seems kind of odd... are you sure you are paying for ONLY your gas?

sue currin · #16 07/16/07, 08:52 PM

Have you opened the oven door and looked on the side of the door? Most imfo is on the side of the door in an in wall unit. Have you tried to clean the knob inside and out? replacing pipe is not hard to do yourself.

mtnbluet881 · #17 07/16/07, 10:52 PM

Hi All,

We live in a mobile home and rent the space and so they put 2 meters together in every other yard.

The knob is part of a thermostat and is very clean on the outside and the gas oven is over 30 years old. Hence, we have decided to live without an oven until we find a reasonable priced one.

Not sure how long that will take as the Remodeler said if he removed an oven he would give it to us, but not sell it to us due to insurance issues. Hence, all he hauls away he recycles instead of reselling it. If others do the same, that would contribute to the scarcity of these older ovens.

I agree. This episode told us that he was not a friend. Sometimes it is good to find this out, so a person is not depending on the wrong individual.

On second thought I am trying to actually get inside the thermostat where the knob goes into and see what is going on. However, there are some weird angles I have to transverse--need to find the short screw driver, but I have to get ready for work tomorrow, so I will continue tomorrow evening after work.

Thanks,
Cathy S.